Dispute Guides

Common Disputes We Litigate & Enforce

Practical, province-specific guidance on the disputes that fill Ontario and BC small claims dockets — and how we turn each of them into a winnable, collectible case.

Unpaid Invoices

Suing for Unpaid Invoices in Ontario & BC

An unpaid invoice is not just an accounting problem — it is a legal claim with a two-year expiry date. Whether you are a contractor, consultant, freelancer, or supplier, the money you are owed is recoverable through a process built precisely for this: a formal demand, then Small Claims Court, then enforcement against the debtor's wages, accounts, or property.

Read Unpaid Invoices guide

Contractor Disputes

Contractor Disputes: Deposits, Deficiencies & Abandoned Work

Renovation and construction disputes are the single largest category of small claims litigation in Canada. A contractor who took a deposit and vanished, delivered defective work, or abandoned a half-finished project can be sued — and with the right investigation, judgments against contractors can be collected even when they hide behind numbered companies.

Read Contractor Disputes guide

Deposits & Damage Claims

Deposit & Property Damage Claims

Deposits — on renovations, vehicles, event venues, custom orders — and property damage claims sit at the messy boundary between tribunals and small claims court. Suing in the wrong forum wastes months. We put the claim in the right place the first time and prosecute it with an evidence-first approach.

Read Deposits & Damage Claims guide

Enforcing a Judgment

How to Enforce a Judgment in Ontario & BC

Courts do not collect judgments — creditors do. If you have won and the debtor still will not pay, the law gives you serious tools: garnishment of wages and bank accounts, writs against real property, and court proceedings that force the debtor to disclose their finances under oath. Knowing which tool to use, in which order, is what separates paid judgments from paper ones.

Read Enforcing a Judgment guide

Garnishment

Wage & Bank Account Garnishment

Garnishment intercepts money on its way to the debtor: a slice of every paycheque, the balance of a bank account, or a receivable owed by the debtor's own customer. For most judgment creditors it is the fastest route from judgment to money — when it is aimed at the right target.

Read Garnishment guide

CRT vs Small Claims (BC)

CRT vs Small Claims Court in BC: Where Does Your Dispute Go?

British Columbia splits its small-dollar justice system in two: the online Civil Resolution Tribunal for claims up to $5,000 (and most strata disputes at any amount), and the Small Claims division of the Provincial Court for claims from $5,001 to $35,000. Filing in the wrong forum costs months. The strategy — and the advocacy — differs sharply between the two.

Read CRT vs Small Claims (BC) guide

Personal Loans

Recovering Money Lent to Family, Friends & Business Partners

Loans between family members, friends, and business partners are usually made on trust — a bank transfer and a promise. When repayment stops, lenders assume the missing paperwork kills the claim. It usually does not. Courts reconstruct loans from e-transfers, texts, and conduct every day, and the two-year limitation clock often starts later than lenders fear.

Read Personal Loans guide

Vehicle Sale Disputes

Private Vehicle Sale Disputes: Misrepresentation & Hidden Defects

"Sold as-is" is not a magic shield. A private seller who actively misrepresents a vehicle — concealing accident history, tampering with the odometer, or lying about mechanical condition — can be sued in small claims court. The buyer's challenge is proof, and proof is an investigation problem.

Read Vehicle Sale Disputes guide